To be close to God, you must be close to Jesus

How small I feel when flying in an airplane. The land below seems so big when I look out the window. Then I think about how tiny our planet Earth is in comparison to the Universe. I ask myself, “Am I really closer to God when I am 33,000 feet in the air compared to when I am standing on the ground?”

It really doesn’t matter where you are. You are close to God if you are close to Jesus. If you are far from Jesus, then you are not close to God. If you don’t know Jesus, then you cannot be close to God. God, the Creator of everything, has made it that way.

Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me. — John 14:6 (KJV)

If Jesus is your friend, and you are close to Him, you will want others to know Him. This is most important with your family, especially with your children. How can you go through life with such a good friend as Jesus and not tell your children about Him?

Perhaps it is because you are not close to Jesus anymore. Close relationships take time and you have been busy. What happens to a friendship when you don’t keep in touch? Usually it starts to fade. You lose track of many things in each other’s lives. Before you know it there are parts missing.

For example, you start to develop different interests. Before, you had some of the same interests. You might also miss important events. Perhaps, a chance to help your friend. Quite often, close friendships bring families together. These family relationships can drift apart when a friendship drifts apart.

Ye are my friends, if ye do whatsoever I command you. — John 15:14 (KJV)

Your relationship with Jesus starts when you accept Him as your Savior. Jesus becomes your friend through your on-going relationship with Him. You show that you are a true friend by what you do. Beyond friendship comes love.

If ye love me, keep my commandments. John 14:15 (KJV)

True love and friendship is shown by what you do. Then love will not only come from Jesus, but from his Father, too!

If a man love me, he will keep my words: and my Father will love him, and we will come unto him, and make our abode with him. — John 14:23b (KJV)

Can you imagine? Jesus and his Father making their abode with you? What a wonderful thing – just for being a friend and loving Jesus. This is something that you definitely what to share with others!

But what happens if you are caught up with other things? What if you don’t know God’s words or His commands? How can you keep them if you don’t know them? Additionally, how can you tell others, especially your children, if you don’t know these yourself? Let me take this one step further. What if you consistently choose other things over and above getting to know God?

If ye had known me, ye should have known my Father also: and from henceforth ye know him, and have seen him. — John 14:7 (KJV)

The above verse shows that by knowing Jesus, you will certainly know the Father. The corollary is that if you don’t know Jesus, you will not know the Father. The implications are eternally staggering! If your heart is on things other than God, those things will be what you love. Herein lies the danger of the times we live in. There are so many enticing things that compete for our attention.

Being close to Jesus is a way of life. This way of life is your primary witness to your family and the people around you. If you want your children to follow God, you must follow God. They are watching what you do more than what you say. The same thing applies to those around you. People watch what you do to see if it lines up with what you profess.

For where your treasure is, there will your heart be also. — Luke 12:34 (KJV)

The world has many “treasures” that can steal your heart. There is only one God and one Way. Be careful to treasure God and his son Jesus more than anyone or anything.

But seek ye first the kingdom of God, and his righteousness; and all these things shall be added unto you. — Matthew 6:33 (KJV)

Be close to Jesus and you will be close to God. Be close to God and your children will most likely be, too. Spend time with your children doing the will of God, and they will grow up loving to serve God, too. What a witness of God’s goodness! What a joy for you, a tiny but important person in God’s universe.